Wireless Networking

Microsoft Windows includes extensive support for the widely adopted Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards for high-speed networking across wireless LANs, including 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11b (also known as Wi-Fi).

Windows Server 2008 Product Documentation

• Foundation Network Companion Guide: Deploying 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access with PEAP-MS-CHAP v2
  Get instructions on how to deploy 802.1X authenticated wireless access by using Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol-Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol version 2 (PEAP-MS-CHAP v2).
• Foundation Network Companion Guide: Deploying Server Certificates
  Get instructions for deploying server certificates for computers that are running Network Policy Server (NPS), Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS), or both.
• Foundation Network Companion Guide: Deploying Computer and User Certificates
  Get instructions for deploying client computer and user certificates with Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS).
• 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access Design Guide
  Learn how to plan and design a new end-to-end 802.1X authenticated wireless infrastructure deployment, using features in Windows Server 2008 and 802.1X-capable wireless access points that you deploy on your network.
• 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Deployment Guide
  Learn how to configure network policies in NPS to authenticate and authorize wireless clients to connect to your network.
• Netsh Commands for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
  Learn how to use the Netsh WLAN commands to configure 802.11 wireless connectivity and security settings for computers running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.

Introductory Overviews

• Wireless LAN Technologies and Microsoft Windows
  This article describes the benefits of wireless LANs, the support for 802.11 wireless LANs in Windows, and general guidelines for wireless LANs in medium to large organizations and small office/home office networks.
• Non-broadcast Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows
  Learn about non-broadcast wireless networks (also known as hidden networks), why Microsoft recommends against their use, and the support for non-broadcast networks in Windows.
• Ad Hoc Internet Sharing with Windows XP
  Learn how to share an Ethernet-based Internet connection with wireless computers using an ad hoc wireless network.

Technical Overviews

• Wireless Deployment Technology and Component Overview
  Read about the elements of wireless LANs, the processes of connection, authentication, and encryption, and the components of a wireless LAN authentication infrastructure that are provided with Windows Server 2003.
• IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Security with Microsoft Windows
  Understand the security issues with 802.11 wireless networks and how Microsoft Windows can be used to make 802.11 wireless networks as secure as the 802.11 standards allow. For a webcast version of this white paper, click here.
• The Advantages of PEAP
  Learn about the efforts of the IEEE and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to address secure wireless access and see how the Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) compares to other standards-based and proprietary schemes.

Wireless Updates

• Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless
  Download this update for computers running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 for updates to Bluetooth, Unified Pairing, and Windows Connect Now.
• Wireless Client Update for Windows XP with Service Pack 2
  Download this update for computers running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 for WPA2 support and improved support for non-broadcast wireless networks.

Windows Vista Resources

• Wireless Networking in Windows Vista
  This white paper describes the security, usability, and manageability improvements for Windows Vista wireless clients.
• Windows Vista Wireless Networking Evaluation Guide
  This Windows Vista TechCenter article describes how to configure Windows Vista wireless clients in a test lab.
• Troubleshooting Windows Vista 802.11 Wireless Connections
  This Windows Vista Technical Library article describes how to troubleshoot Windows Vista wireless client connectivity.
• New Networking Features in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista
  The "Wireless and 802.1X-based Wired Connections" section of this article describes the new wireless LAN features for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista.
• Connecting to Wireless Networks with Windows Vista
  The Cable Guy article for April 2006 describes the improvements for connecting to wireless LAN networks with Windows Vista.
• Joining a Windows Vista Wireless Client to a Domain
  Learn how to configure a temporary wireless profile so that a Windows Vista-based wireless client can connect to a wireless network and join an Active Directory domain.
• Netsh Commands for Wireless Local Area Network (wlan)
  Learn about the syntax and use of the complete set of netsh wlan commands that you can use to manage 802.11 wireless networks in Windows Vista.
• Active Directory Schema Extensions for Windows Vista Wireless and Wired Group Policy Enhancements
  Learn how to extend the schema of a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory environment to support wireless and wired Group Policy enhancements in Windows Vista.
• Wireless Group Policy Settings for Windows Vista
  The Cable Guy article for April 2007 describes the new features of wireless Group Policy in Windows Vista.
• Wireless Single Sign-On
  The Cable Guy article for November 2007 describes how Windows Vista supports a more seamless logon experience and allows you to configure when to perform wireless network authentication.

Webcasts

• Deploying and Managing Wireless Networks with Windows Vista
  This TechNet webcast describes the many important improvements in wireless security, manageability, extensibility, and diagnostics in Windows Vista.
• IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Security with Microsoft Windows
  This white paper webcast provides a detailed look at the 802.11 (Wired Equivalent Privacy [WEP]), 802.1X, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and WPA2 security standards.
• How Microsoft IT Secures Wireless Networks at Microsoft
  The webcast describes how Microsoft operates one of the largest wireless LAN networks in the world. Experts from Microsoft IT outline best practices learned during the deployment, and provide methodologies to help you understand what is required to build and operate a wireless LAN.
• Implementing Security for Wireless Networks
  This webcast discusses security concerns and solution options for implementing a wireless LAN, and includes recommendations for implementing, configuring, and troubleshooting security in a wireless network and how to implement more secure authentication mechanisms.

Wireless Networks for the Home or Small Office

• Recommendations for Small Office or Home Office Wireless Networks
  Learn about the recommendations and best practices for configuring a protected wireless network for a home or small business that does not use a Windows domain.
• Configuring Windows XP IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks for the Home and Small Business
  Learn how to configure computers running Windows XP to create a wireless network for a home or small business that does not use a Windows domain.
• Step-by-Step Guide for Secure Wireless Deployment for Small Office/Home Office or Small Organization Networks
  Learn the step-by-step instructions for setting up a secure wireless network for a small office/home office (SOHO) or for a small organization that uses 802.1X authentication and a Windows domain.
• Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows XP-based Wireless Networks in the Small Office or Home Office
  Learn how to troubleshoot the most common problems on Windows XP-based wireless networks for a home or small business that does not use 802.1X authentication and a Windows domain.

Deployment Resources

• 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access Design Guide
  Learn how to plan and design a new end-to-end 802.1X authenticated wireless infrastructure deployment, using features in Windows Server 2008 and 802.1X-capable wireless access points that you deploy on your network.
• 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Deployment Guide
  Learn how to configure network policies in NPS to authenticate and authorize wireless clients to connect to your network.
• Windows Server 2008 Networking and Network Access Protection (NAP)
  Get planning, step-by-step instructions, and troubleshooting information to deploy a protected wireless LAN with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 from this Microsoft Press book.
• Deploying Secure 802.11 Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows
  Get step-by-step instructions to deploy a protected wireless LAN for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 from this Microsoft Press book. To learn about changes in wireless standards and wireless support in Windows that have occurred since publication, downloadUpdates to Deploying Secure 802.11 Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows.
• Wireless Deployment Technology and Component Overview
  Read about the elements of wireless LANs, the processes of connection, authentication, and encryption, and the components of a wireless LAN authentication infrastructure that are provided with Windows Server 2003.
• Deployment of Protected 802.11 Networks Using Microsoft Windows
  Learn how to deploy a protected IEEE 802.11 wireless network with IEEE 802.1X authentication for medium and large organizations using Windows wireless clients and a Windows Server 2003-based authentication infrastructure.
• Wireless Deployment Recommendations and Best Practices
  Learn about the recommendations and best practices for deploying a secure 802.11-based wireless network when using IEEE 802.1X authentication and Windows-based wireless clients and authentication server.
• Designing and Deploying Wireless LAN Connectivity for the Microsoft Corporate Network
  Understand the history of the deployment of the Microsoft Corporation wireless LAN, the technologies used to provide protected wireless access, and its configuration and infrastructure.
• Step-by-Step Guide for Setting up Secure Wireless Access in a Test Lab
  Learn how to configure wireless access with security using IEEE 802.1X authentication in a test lab using a wireless access point and four computers.
• Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit: Deploying a Wireless LAN
  Get guidelines and recommended processes for designing and deploying a wireless LAN network in this chapter from the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit.
• Obtaining and Installing a VeriSign WLAN Server Certificate for PEAP-MS-CHAP v2 Wireless Authentication
  Learn how to obtain and install a VeriSign WLAN Server Certificate on IAS RADIUS servers to enable password-based authentication for wireless connections using PEAP-MS-CHAP v2.
• Enterprise Deployment of Wireless & Remote Access with RSA SecureID and Microsoft Internet Authentication Service
  Learn how to configure RSA ACE/Server to provide a secure authentication solution for VPN and Windows XP 802.1X wireless clients running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 with the PEAP QFE installed.
• Publishing Company WPA2 Case Study
  Learn about the business requirements, solution, benefits, and future plans of a WPA2 deployment for a large publishing company.

Microsoft Solution Guides

• Microsoft Solution for Securing Wireless LANs with Certificate Services
  Get guidance from the Windows Server 2003 Certificate Services Solution for planning, implementing, operating, and testing wireless LANs. Includes installation scripts, security templates, monitoring scripts and implementation planning resources.
• Microsoft Solution for Securing Wireless LANs with PEAP and Passwords
  Get guidance from the Microsoft Solutions for Security team for the planning, implementation, operations, and testing of user name and password authentication for secure wireless LANs using PEAP. Includes scripts to automate configuration tasks.

Troubleshooting Resources

• Troubleshooting Windows Vista 802.11 Wireless Connections
  Learn how to troubleshoot Windows Vista wireless client connections.
• Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows XP-based Wireless Networks in the Small Office or Home Office
  Learn how to troubleshoot the most common problems on Windows XP-based wireless networks for homes or small businesses that do not use a Windows domain.
• Troubleshooting IEEE 802.11 Wireless Access with Microsoft Windows XP
  Find out about the tools used to troubleshoot a Windows XP wireless client, a wireless access point, and IAS, and how to troubleshoot the most common problems with IAS authentication and authorization on a wireless network that uses 801.2X authentication and a Windows domain.
• A Support Guide for Wireless Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
  Learn how to examine Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 tracing logs and perform advanced troubleshooting for IEEE 802.11 associations and IEEE 802.1X authentications.

Articles by The Cable Guy

• Wireless Single Sign-On
• Wireless Group Policy Settings for Windows Vista
• Connecting to Wireless Networks with Windows Vista
• Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 Overview
• Wireless LAN Enhancements in Windows XP Service Pack 2
• The New Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Service Pack 2
• Configuring Wireless Settings Using Windows Server 2003 Group Policy
  

Wireless Hardware Vendor Resources

• 802.11 Wireless LAN Miniport Drivers
  Get in-depth information about developing Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) 802.11 wireless LAN miniport drivers.
• 802.11 Wireless LAN Objects
  Refer to the Windows Driver Kit for details about 802.11 WLAN object identifiers (OIDs) that are supported by NDIS 5.1 and later.

Additional Resources

• Wireless Networking Product Documentation
  Refer to the full set of product documentation for wireless networking that is provided with Windows Server 2003.
• Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference: 802.11 Wireless Technical Reference
  This section of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference contains in-depth technical information about 802.11 wireless LAN support in Windows Server 2003.
• Wi-Fi Alliance
  Browse the Wi-Fi Alliance Web Site for information about this group of companies (including Microsoft) that are working together to certify interoperability of IEEE 802.11 products.
• IEEE Wireless Standards Zone
  Get links to information about IEEE wireless standards, including IEEE 802.11.

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